What Is Adjusted Gross Income?

Adjusted Gross Income, also known as AGI, istotaled up and the total sum is gross income of
the computation of the deductions and expensesthe person or the tax payer. The tax payer may
from a person's income from all sources. Broadlydirectly deduct certain business expenses, child
saying, it is the calculation of taxable income fromsupport expenses, interest paid on student loans,
all sources which includes salaries, wages, ordinarymoving expenses from the gross income.
dividends, capital gains or losses, royalties, taxableThe next step is to take a standard deduction,
IRA distributions, interest, income from ordinarywhich is a flat sum of money based on the tax
dividends, taxable pensions and annuities lessreturn filer's filing status and age. After this, the
deductions and expenses including educatortax payer comes to a certain result and using a
deductions, the IRA deductions, moving expenses,tax schedule, and he or she determines the tax
fees and tuition expenses, one half of selfowed based on the amount that he or she has. It
employment tax, student loan, interest deductions.is this amount that is known as AGI.
The deduction and expenses are allowed by theWhy the adjusted gross income is so important?
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) who provides taxNumerous organizations make decisions such as
calculators on its website so that people can useapproving mortgage application, allowing a
the same to calculate the adjusted gross income.taxpayer to receive government assistance or
While calculating AGI, the first step is to list theoffering a line of credit and the AGI plays a very
sources of income which are taxable. The sourcesimportant role in determining such applications. AGI
may include capital gains from selling real estate,serves as a base for various benefits and so
proceeds from stock sales, alimony, and anyevery American should keep a copy of their
other source you can think of or have listedcalculations on hand.
down. Income from all the sources has to be